Wednesday fundraiser supports Blessings in a Backpack

By Matt KoesterThe Register-Mail

Saturday

May 5, 2018 at 7:58 PMMay 6, 2018 at 3:05 PM

GALESBURG — Those who want to help make a difference at a local level should mark their calendars for this Wednesday, May 9, when Knox College-based Blessings in a Backpack will sponsor the "Blessings, Blues and Brews III" fundraiser at Iron Spike Brewery.

The event is set to benefit the charitable organization, which offers 436 Galesburg elementary school students in food-insecure households easy-to-prepare food for weekends. One-hundred percent of the money raised at the event, which has a $20 entry fee, will go toward the organization.

Starting at 7 p.m., the annual event turns Iron Spike over to Blessings in a Backpack. There will be music from Knox’s Cherry Street Jazz Combo, as well as Knox’s student-run Soulfege a cappella group. While Iron Spike will still be serving food and drinks at their usual prices, a complimentary wine and beer tasting will come with the event’s $20 tickets.

An auction at 8:30 p.m. will offer Cubs and Cardinals tickets, Expedia hotel gift cards and more, provided by donors to raise money for Blessings in a Backpack. There will also be a 50/50 drawing and a photo booth provided by Kehoe Eye Care.

Besides Iron Spike, other local businesses are supporting the event, with big-ticket donors getting their names added to the event’s promotional banner. While the banner has already been printed, businesses are still invited to donate.

At 10 p.m., the event opens up to Knox students for a karaoke party. Blessings in a Backpack has encouraged Knox clubs to compete to raise money by selling $5 karaoke tickets.

A branch of a national organization, Blessings in a Backpack Knox College was started in 2010 as a collaboration between students of Knox College, education professor Joel Estes, First Presbyterian Church and Galesburg School District 205. Starting as a small-scale operation serving 42 food-insecure students at the now-closed Cooke School, in subsequent years it expanded its range of activity and collaborated with allies such as the Galesburg Lions Club.

Since then, Blessings in a Backpack has expanded its services tenfold, running a tab with the East Main Street Hy-Vee for purchased goods, as well as receiving apples from Knox College students.

Each student enrolled in the free program receives two cans of chicken soup, two packets of oatmeal, two granola bars, cheese crackers, raisins, applesauce and an apple every weekend. The choice of food items is made to be both cost-effective and easy for children to prepare and eat, as many parents in the program work on weekends and may leave their kids home alone.

"We hear stories all of the time of kids saying, ‘without my bag, I wouldn’t have anything to eat this weekend,’" Estes said.

The chapter meets every Tuesday night in First Presbyterian Church to pack bags with food. Participants range from church volunteers to 40 or 50 Knox students, who can go there to meet volunteer requirements for certain classes and organizations, or simply to give back to the Galesburg community.

Nobody at Blessings in a Backpack is paid for their work, but the organization’s size means it still needs nearly $40,000 a year to operate. Fundraisers like "Blessings, Blues and Brews" offer a chance to support the program and have a fun night out. This will be the event’s third year, and as far as Estes is concerned, its been a great partnership.

"I can’t say enough about (Iron Spike) owner Ryan Cardwell and General Manager Dan Hite," he said. "They’ve been so supportive over the years."

The organization raised $8,000 at the first fundraiser and $17,000 last year, a pretty large sum considering the organization’s budget. With Wednesday’s fundraiser, they hope to maintain that streak.

"Blessing, Blues and Brews III" runs from 7 p.m. until midnight on Wednesday, May 9, at Iron Spike Brewery, 150 E. Simmons St. Tickets are $20 and can be bought at the door, or can be bought in advance at Iron Spike or through Lions Club and Blessings members.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.